November 14, 2010

Mark
Worst:
Not finishing the closet.
Best:
1) Finishing most of the closet.
2) The weather being nice.
3) Trent telling me to hurry up so he can say Nigh-Nigh.
4) Trent taking a long nap.
5) Finishing up my benefits enrollment.


Alyssa
Worst:
Having to go home while playing at Naomi's.
Best:
1) Playing with Naomi for an hour
2) Eating spaghetti and pizza - it's Italian food day!
3) Not having to deal with Tanya for 4 days in a row! Very Nice, High Five!
4) Playing Bunco and winning the most buncos! It was my first time playing too!
5) Drinking hot cocoa with a french vanilla flavored chocolate spoon! (Part of my prize for winning at Bunco!)


Trenton
Worst:
Going to JC Penney's for a Xmas photo with sissy. I did NOT want to do this today. (Mommy had to reschedule)
Best
1) Having the gate moved to behind the table, now there's lots of room for me to run around! (And get into things!)
2) Snuggling with Mommy a lot.
3) Reading 3 books to Mommy.
4) Eating cashews for the first time (and finishing off about half a can!)
5) Eating "red chips" (Doritos)


Julie:
Worst:
Mark not helping me with Trent at the photo session. Or being involved in it at all actually.
Best:
1) Trent snuggling with me a lot today.
2) Alyssa having fun and winning bunco.
3) Starting my online wish list today!
4) Finding out that most of the people we know had a crappy day today too!
5) Today being the last day that my brother will be in his 20's. And that make me laugh. JEFF WILL BE 30 TOMORROW!!!!!!
6) Pumpkin Spice Latte!

November 13, 2010

Mark
Worst:
Not finishing the closet.
Best:
1) Finished painting the closet.
2) Playing with Trent at the park. (Daddy went to his kettlebell class at the park and took Trent with him, while Mommy and sissy went to the hair salon.)
3) Not having any work to do today.
4) The weather being nice.
5) Eating lil smokies.


Alyssa
Worst:
All day I have been thinking it's later than it really was- Annoying!
Best:
1) No school.
2) When the little girl at Ralph's thought my mommy was her mommy.
3) Finally being able to eat the crescent roll foods we made all day!
4) Sleeping in.
5) Getting my iTouch & Nintendo DS back. (I got them taken away for bad behavior, but returned for good behavior!)


Trenton
Worst:
Not being able to go in Mommy's room all day because daddy was in there working on the closets.
Best:
1) Going to the park with daddy this morning.
2) Dipping apple slices in jelly, ketchup, mustard and sour cream and then eating them.
3) Playing peek-a-boo with mommy's hair!
4) Watching sissy (&daddy) play wii - BONK! (He wanted daddy to play "Bonk" - which we learned was Knock out! LOL)
5) Going to Lowe's & riding in the cart.


Julie
Worst:
Not being able to stand up!
Best:
1) Getting my hair colored!
2) Making lots of yummy food with Alyssa.
3) Not overdoing it by resisting the yummy food and not eating all of it!
4) Being the first one up in the morning today because that NEVER happens!
5) PSL! (Pumpkin spice latte...)

Day 11 - November 12, 2010

Mark
Worst:
Having to deal with M.A.'s team.
Best:
1) Getting off work on time.
2) It being Friday.
3) Getting a head start on the closet.
4) It being Friday.
5) Julie having today off.
6) It being Friday.
7) Getting to rock my awesome (BARF) shoes today! (I can not believe he actually wore those to work. Actually, yes I can.)


Alyssa
Worst:
Hurting my foot tonight! (I tripped over my brother's fire station and stepped on it in the process. OUCH!)
Best:
1) Tanya was absent from school!!!
2) Getting to eat a cookie for that mommy got for me!
3) Getting 2 new packs of Webkinz cards from Mark! And one of the webkinz was named Alyssa!
4) Getting my moisturizer! Garnier Moisture Rescue-I've wanted it ever sine mom gave me a sample of it out of her magazine!
5) It being Friday!
6) I am very happy that mommy let me get some makeup at Target! (Clear mascara and lipgloss, LOL)
7) Playing on the computer most of the evening.
8) Playing with my brother!


Trenton
Worst:
Definitely when it was time for bed. I did not want to go nigh nigh tonight!
Best:
1) Getting to eat a cookkie that mommy got for me!
2) Cookie Crisp for breakfast (again), AND for snack!
3) Playing with Sissy (Giddy up horsey!)
4) Going to Target & Starbucks again!
5) Getting Hot-Dog bandaids!
6) Seeing Aka (Naomi's brother) outside!


Julie
Worst:
My legs won't stop tingling and hurting.
Best:
1) Being at home for most of the day-sooooo nice.
2) Making great progress on catching up on my magazines!
3) PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE!
4) Michael Kors stuff on sale today, and I resisted the urge and bought nothing! AMAZING!
5) Alyssa leaving me little notes in the morning two days in a row that say good morning & I love you. AWWW.

Day 10 - November 11, 2010

Mark
Worst:
Having to work on the same problem at work today, as I did all day yesterday.
Best:
1) Finishing the problem that I worked on all day today and yesterday.
2) Being 5 pounds away from my goal weight.
3) Trent turning on the light for Alyssa when she asked him to.
4) Making Alyssa laugh by embarrassing her with her bra.
5) Trent eating his dinner and not being whiney about it.


Alyssa
Worst:
Mom going to work.
Best:
1) Sleeping in!
2) No school today (Veteren's Day)
3) Not having to deal with Tanya.
4) Snuggling with Trenton.
5) Seeing how happy Trent was when he saw me in the morning.
6) Watching Mean Girls.
7) Teaching Trent his ABC's.
8) Playing with the girls, (Naomi and her sister Namie) for an hour.
9) Having a Jello cup with whipped cream and 3 pieces of candy today!
10) Playing Wii for Trenton for awhile.


Trenton
Worst:
Having to take a nap! (Especially with Sissy home today!)
Best:
1) Going to Target - Yay!
2) Getting a bath.
3) Playing with Sissy all day!
4) Watching sissy play Wii.
5) Singing my ABC's!


Julie
Worst:
People hearing me but not listening ALL DAY.
Best:
1) Alyssa being home from school.
2) Playing Battleship with Alyssa.
3) Watching Mean Girls with the kids.
4) Trent singing most of his ABC's!
5) Getting part of our bedroom cleaned up. (We're redoing our closets, so its a constant work in progress.)
6) Trent handing me things and saying to me, "Happy Birthday!"

Day 9 - November 10, 2010

Mark
Worst:
Only getting 4 hours of sleep.
Best:
1) Leaving work early.
2) Trent trying to tickle me.
3) Not having to work tonight.
4) Children being good.
5) Going to sleep before 2am.


Alyssa
Worst:
Getting jammed in my rib from the metal in the seat I was sitting in when I fell. (No serious injuries!)
Best:
1) Not having any homework
2) Got to watch a good play.
3) Got three pieces of candy - 2 in my lunch and one for dessert!
4) Finished another book today!
5) Skipping most of my classes because of our field trip!


Trenton
Worst:
Having to eat Mac & Cheese for dinner. (I wish I could relate!)
Best:
1) Getting to play with toys at Dr. Mennen's office (our Family MFT)
2) Alyssa making me laugh in the truck.
3) Going to Starbucks-Yay!
4) Going shopping at Ralph's in a ride! (A shoping cart with a car on it)
5) Cookie crisp for breakfast again!


Julie
Worst:
Today when leaving Dr.Mennen's office, Mark kissed me twice (this was good), but Alyssa said that's only the third time she's ever seen us kiss-the first being at our wedding 3 years ago. Kinda sad.
Best:
1) I got a free yum! (Starbucks drive thru took over 10 minutes, so they gave me my drink for free. YAY!)
2) I got my Michael Kors clothes in the mail!
3) Mark kissed me twice in public today!
4) Alyssa had a good day at school!
5) Getting in a 20 minute nap.
6) Received first Christmas card! (It was from Hallmark, but still...)
7) My mom was worried she was dying (at a faster rate than others), and confirmed today after her dr's visit that she is ok. (Like I told her! But its still a good thing.)

Day 8 - November 9, 2010

Mark
Worst:
Having to work tonight.
Best:
1) Children behaving.
2) Trent laughing while I was running the plane down the slide.
3) Alyssa making her lunch.
4) Waking up with my alarm clock.
5) Trent eating most of his dinner.


Alyssa
Worst:
The Tanya thing. (The main girl that's giving her a hard time at school. She said a lot of nasty stuff to her today.)
Best:
1) Watching Shrek with Trenton
2) Getting to play with Naomi for a little bit. (Her BFF and our neighbor)
3) Going to bed (She was super sleepy)
4) Laughing with Trent a lot tonight.
5) Eating good Mac & Cheese for dinner.
6) Getting to eat the last chocolate pumpkin.


Trenton
Worst:
Getting yelled at by Sissy a lot tonight for pulling her hair.
Best:
1) Getting a sucker at Dr.Laurance's today.
2) Laughing a lot today-everything was funny and silly!
3) Having cookie crisp for breakfast!
4) Getting an early morning bath because I poured the milk from my cookie crisp over my head.
5) Putting my jammies on because they're hot dog jammies!! (Hot Dog=Mickey Mouse)


Julie
Worst:
The Tanya thing.
Best:
1) A patient came in tonight that I thought FOR SURE was going to need an ear lavage and he didn't-YAY!
2) Trenton tooting, me telling him "Excuse You", and him saying "Thank You".
3) Receiving a heartfelt letter from Caroline expressing her gratitude regarding the wellbeing of her daughter (Naomi)
4) Super busy at work tonight, but everyone was exceptionally nice. (No stupid people!!! LOL. Amazing!)
5) Two girls came in tonight that really impressed me. The first girl was in a wheelchair due to a spinal cord injury resulting from an auto accident that wasn't her fault. She was the passenger and the only one seriously hurt in the accident. The second was a girl who was picking up stuff in her room when her light went out. She tripped over her backpack, stepped on a pencil sticking out of her backpack, which then caused her to fall, spraining her ankle and smacking her head on her dresser. This is the same foot that has been previously broken twice and has already had surgery to it. In both cases, the girls were laughing at their misfortunes. Unbelievable.

Day 7 - November 8, 2010

Mark
Worst:
Waking up before my alarm went off.
Best:
1) Getting home at a decent hour.
2) Getting a good night's sleep last night.
3) Children being relatively good.
4) Getting the sound to work on the video player.
5) Not having a lot to catch up on at work.


Alyssa
Worst:
Getting picked on at school.
Best:
1) Watching Shrek with my brother.
2) It being a short day at school.
3) Readng Chicks Chicka Boom Boom to my Trent twice.
4) Getting to eat a chocolate pumpkin for dessert.
5) Seeing Naomi outside of my window.
6) Finishing my book tonight! Sweet Valley Twins - Keeping Secrets.


Trenton
Worst:
Being woken up early from my nap!
Best:
1) Going to Dr.Haynes(My weight loss doc) & Ashley's(his wife/front desk person) to play with toys and get prizes!
2) Going to Target - Yay!
3) Going to Starbucks - Yummy! And getting a holiday cup!
4) Watching Shrek with Sissy.
5) Eating 2 pieces of toast for dinner!


Julie
Worst:
Alyssa being picked on at school again.
Best:
1) Getting almost all green lights on the way home from work again.
2) Getting a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks.
3) Finishing my expiration date project at work - Finally.
4) Starting this blog.
5) Already receiving wonderful complements on starting my blog!

Day 6 - November 7, 2010

Mark
Worst:
Another mouthy day for Alyssa.
Best:
1) The children going to bed early.
2) Sleeping in my own bed.
3) Eating chili dogs with corn chips.
4) Getting everything we need for the week picked up from Costco, so I don't have to take the kids there this week.
5) Trent wanting me to read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom to him.


Alyssa
Worst:
I was not feeling well on the way home (train & car) today from SB.
Best:
1) We got picked up in a Limo (Taxi) to go to the train station!
2) We came home (from SB)
3) Got to eat lots of yummy snacks on the train, like beef jerky, oreos and cheese & crackers!
4) I finished two books and one magazine today!
5) Mommy let me read US Weekly!
6) I saw dolphins out of the window on the the train!


Trenton
Worst:
Getting into the car,not wanting to sit in my carseat after getting off the train.
Best:
1) Getting home and playing with my toys!
2) Getting a bath!
3) Getting to watch Monsters, Inc. ater talking about it all weekend!
4) Going on the choo-choo again! And seeing dolphins!
5) Glad to be home and sleep in my own bed!


Julie
Worst:
Getting everyone and everything into the car at the train station to go home.
Best:
1) Got picked up in a limo (taxi) to go to the train station.
2) Got to have waffles for breakfast again!
3) Ate 4 oreos with milk.
4) Getting home-finally.
5) Drinking wine and watching Dexter.
6) Getting an extra hour of sleep! (Daylight Savings Time)

Day 5 - November 6, 2010

Mark
Worst:
Alyssa not having a good attitude again today.
Best:
1) Walking around, seeing many parts of Santa Barbara.
2) Getting a good night's sleep.
3) Getting sweet, new shoes (HORRIBLE looking white loafers-will have to post a picture).
4) Taking a nap.
5) Watching Caillou with Trent because he was being good.


Alyssa
Worst:
Thinking I lost Tigey in the hotel room. (Her fave stuffed animal that she's had forever)
Best:
1) Getting a new bracelet that says Santa Barbara.
2) Snuggling with Trenton and watching Spongebob.
3) Finding Tigey.
4) Playing games with Mommy.
5) Playing with my brother.


Trenton
Worst:
Not getting to eat all of the carrot cake square that daddy bought for sissy and I.
Best:
1) Got to eat LOTS of snacks.
2) Flirted with a little girl at dinner.
3) Got to see lots of boats and walk down the wharf.
4) Went shopping and got some new light-up Disney Cars shoes!
5) Did lots of walking today and got to ee lots of new things!


Julie
Worst:
My ears hurting from the cold air & wind (I had to buy ear drops at Rite Aid they hurt so bad!)
Best:
1) Playing games with Alyssa while the boys napped.
2) Eating waffles, subway and a baked potato today! YUM!
3) Window shoping and browsing a lot today.
4) Walking around a lot today with my family - everyone was happy.
5) Bird crap did NOT land on our heads! (A bird soaring over was aiming for us, but it landed right behind Mark and right in front of me. Soooo close!)

Day 4 - November 5, 2010

Today we decided that we shouldn't limit the best parts of our day. So we changed our rule from choosing the 5 best things to at least 5 of the best things. Always room for more happiness...


Mark
Worst:
Dealing with misbehaving children all day, from the time I woke up today.
Best:
1) Getting OFF the train (Almost a 5 hour ride from San Diego to Santa Barbara for a weekend getaway)
2) Eating dinner because I was hungry!
3) Having today off from work.
4) The cab ride from the train station to the hotel was short.
5) Trent taking a long nap on the train.


Alyssa
Worst:
Sitting on a train for almost 5 hours.
Best:
1) Eating a really good grilled ham & cheese sandwich for dinner.
2) Finishing my book - Sweet Valley Twins - Against the Rules.
3) Cynthia & I are friends again.
4) Leaving school early.
5) Seeing Trent get excited about the choo-choo!


Trenton
Worst:
Not being able to run around on the train!
Best:
1) Grilled cheese for dinner, Yay! I clapped and got super excited!
2) Going on a choo-choo!
3) Being able to walk to the restaurant for dinner instead of going in the stroller.
4) Getting my hair cut!
5) Eating fruit all day! Yum!


Julie:
Worst:
Dealing with misbehaving children on what should have been a very enjoyable train ride.
Best:
1) Getting to go on a train ride to SB for the weekend.
2) Gong on a weekend getaway!
3) Seeing Trent get excited about his grilled cheese sandwich.
4) Discovering a new game to play on my phone (Unblock Me)
5) Got an early morning yum today! (Yum=Starbucks)
6) Getting OFF the train.
7) Seeing Trent get excited about the choo-choo.

Day 3 - November 4, 2010

Mark
Worst:
Having to deal with M. for most of the day. (His least fave co-worker)
Best:
1) It was my Friday at work.
2) Finding out that I've lost 43+ pounds (He's doing the medifast diet)
3) Trent feeling better.
4) Finishing up with work tonight.
5) Going to dinner with Trent & Alyssa.


Alyssa
Worst:
Had to take a test today.
Best:
1) Went to dinner at Mimi's.
2) Trent & I saying I love you back and forth.
3) Getting a cookie from Starbucks.
4) Went into Ralph's alone to buy bananas.
5)Got to see Jupiter.


Trenton
Worst:
Day 4 of diarrhea diapers. :(
Best:
1) Eating frnch fries with ranch at Mimi's.
2) Geting strawberries with breakfast.
3) Enjoyed helping Mommy open the pillsbury package and playing with the oven mitt.
4) Getting to play in Mommy's room!
5) Laughing at sissy's hair blowin in the truck.


Julie
Worst:
Being 98% finished with my expiration date project at work and running out of time.
Best:
1) Hitting almost all green lights on my way home from work.
2) Weighing only 10 pounds more than the 17 year old that came in for a sports physical. She's my height!
3) Getting off work on time all week!
4) Finding Michael Kors pants AND shorts for under $30 combined!!
5) Learning my scrub size should now be an X-Small!

Day 2 - November 3, 2010

Mark
Worst:
Alyssa was a terd (being mouthy) off and on tonight.
Best:
1) Julie scratching my back when I woke up.
2) Giving Trent a bath.
3) It being my Thursday at work.
4) Chevron had diet mountain dew in the soda fountain.
5) R. and his girlfriend breaking up.


Alyssa
Worst:
Fully waking up to the sound of buzzing from Mark's razor.
Best:
1) Talking to Summer.
2) Playing bingo in history.
3) I made two new friends today - Catherine & Olivia.
4) Getting to eat rice, toast, applesauce and pasta for snack and dinner tonight!
5) Mark put candy in my lunch today!


Trenton
Worst:
More diarrhea diapers=BRAT diet today.
Best:
1) Mommy taking me on a ride around the complex in the wagon.
2) Watching "Snoopy" movie.
3) Learning we could look for new light-up fire truck shoes in a bigger size.
4) Got to play in the bath tonight!
5) Mommy tickling my ear and making me laugh hard.


Julie
Worst:
I had to do an EKG on a convicted sex offender.
Best:
1) Alyssa had a good day at school today.
2) Tickling Trent's ear and making him laugh.
3) Going on a walk with Trent in the wagon and seeing baby lizards.
4) Carol(my boss) telling me that all the organizing I've been doing at work looks really great.
5) Mark saying one of his favorite parts of the day was me scratching his back in the morning.

Day 1 - November 2, 2010

Mark
Worst:
I had to talk to J. R. at work today. (the guy's a tool)
Best:
1) Alyssa got up on time and was ready to go to school.
2) Alyssa was good for the most part.
3) Julie didn't have to work late.
4) I didn't have to work tonight.
5) I got to vote today.


Alyssa
Worst:
Kids in AVID (her college prep elective) calling me names.
Best:
1) Started book report that's due in two days.
2) Getting to hear that I can do a photography class.
3) Eating lunch with Summer - that was really fun!
4) Learning about the what I'm grateful for photo collage.
5) Trent gave me a big hug & kiss when Mark went to turn in his vote.


Trent
Worst:
Having 4 diarrhea diapers.
Best:
1) Getting to eat a bubblegum flavored sucker.
2) Getting to play with toys at Dr.Laurance's(MFT to Mark and I) office.
3) Watching Daddy play Mario on Wii.
4) Reading 5 or 6 books tonight instead of 3.
5) Sitting on Mommy's lap, eating toast, drinking juice, and watching Special Agent Oso.


Julie
Worst:
A pregnant patient and her husband came in tonight whose two children were going to be about 14 months apart. I commented, "Wow. You guys are going to be tired." She got upset, and said that no one ever reacts positively to that information. (Insert foot in mouth here)
Best:
1) Being able to see Mark in the middle of the day at our Dr.Laurance appt.
2) Finishing making my list of expiration dates at work.
3) Dr. Laurance telling us that we're really good parents.
4) Seeing Alyssa get excited over the photo collage.
5) Trent & Alyssa telling me "i love you" repeatedly in the car on my way to work.

family dynamics

Mark - My husband. 33 years old and an IT geek. Don't ask me what he does at work. I have no idea. I have asked several times, only to get lost about halfway through his shpeel. He and I have been together for 7.5 years, and married for 3. He is my daughter's stepdad, and unfortunately for all of us, they do not get along. Together, he and I have a son, whom I stay home with all day while my husband is at work.

Julie - Myself. I too am 33 years old and work as a medical assistant at an urgent care facility. I work evenings so that we don't have to pay for childcare. I like my job, but I feel like I miss out on a lot of family time. I typically only work from 4-8pm, three to four times per week. So I am still able to pick up my daughter from school, and be home in time to read to the kids and put them to bed at night.

Alyssa - My daughter. She is 11 years old and in sixth grade. She just started middle school and is having a really rough time. She is brilliant, gets straight A's and is super creative. She played both the flute and violin last year, the only child at her school to play two instruments in band/orchestra. This year she chose college prep as her elective, so she is not involved in music for now. Alyssa's biological father lives in Northern Ca, while we live in southern Ca. She typically flies up to see him and his family for one weekend a month. She and her stepmom also have it in for each other, as well as her two half sisters from her dad's side of the family. Alyssa is a very good kid, but her mouth often gets her in trouble.

Trenton - My son. He just turned 2 in August, and is the most well behaved child I have ever seen. We are VERY lucky. I've been told that boys are easier to take care of, and this is proving to be true. He is very mild mannered and laid back. He is talking a lot more now, and it's fun to hear his new words every day. It doesn't take much to make this kid happy! For now, we will be filling out his best/worst choices for him, until he is able to make the decisions on his own.

Well that's my immediate family. I hope to add more family members in the near future, but for now my project starts with us.

in the beginning

My family does not know how to communicate with each other. AT ALL. This includes my husband and I, our two children, our parents, grandparents, etc. Even though most of us talk to each other on a daily basis, there is no communication. No one talks about their feelings, or ideas or dreams. We seem to talk only just enough to get our basic needs met. What we need from the store, what paperwork the school needs us to sign now, did you pay the cable bill, what's for dinner, etc. But in these basic conversations, we do not communicate. So, I came up with an idea to help get things started.

Starting small, with just my immediate family, I got out notecards and starting asking questions. I wanted our notecards to include the ONE worst thing that happened to us, followed by the FIVE best things that happened each day. This allows each of us to acknowledge both the good and the bad, but presents a more positive spin by adding additional good things. In doing this, I hope to show my husband that there is more to life than his laptop, work and the internet. I hope to show my 11 year old daughter that her life is not really as bad as she thinks it is. I hope to show my 2 year old son how to communicate effectively right from the start. And I hope to show myself that nothing is ever perfect. So here goes nothing...